THE ALCHEMICAL STUDIES OF SCOT 89 



us. Nor is it the case that we have here to deal 

 with two distinct works. The last leaf, to which 

 Tanner more particularly refers (fol. 119, old 

 numeration), shows a hand of the fourteenth century, 

 and forms the only remainder of the original. The 

 rest of the manuscript (fol. 116-118) has been 

 supplied by a scribe of the fifteenth century, but 

 the whole is perfectly continuous, as appears plainly 

 when we notice that the first words of the original 

 (fol. 119 recto), ' et cum siccatus,' have also been 

 written by the later scribe at the bottom of page 

 118 verso. 



In spite of the highly suspicious dedication, 

 ' Theophilo Kegi Saracenorum,' several reasons 

 incline us to regard the De Alchimia as, in sub- 

 stance at least, a genuine work of Michael Scot. 

 To begin with, it clearly belongs to a very early 

 period ; for, in the opening words of his preface, 

 the author describes alchemy as a science, noble 

 indeed, but as yet neglected and contemned by the 

 Latins (' apud Latinos penitus denegatam '). In 

 the same sentence we find him referring to the 

 secreta naturae, just as Scot does in the Liber 

 Luminis, and declaring his purpose to furnish the 

 world with a commentary on it in the work he now 

 attempts (' secreta naturae intelligentibus revelare '). 

 In the opening paragraph of the book itself he 

 seems to refer plainly to the Liber Luminis as a 

 work written by him (' notitia de salibus vel salium 

 prout in aliquo libro a me translate dixi'). Nor 

 should we overlook the distinctly ecclesiastical tone 

 which is to be observed in the De Alchimia. Part 

 of the preface is conceived almost in the form of a 

 prayer, commencing thus : ' Creator omnium rerum 



